Securing floor coverings and the like



Feb. 12, 1935,. B, C, PLACE K 1,991,259

SECURING FLOR COVERINGS AND THE LIKE Filed July 29, 1951 2 mets-sheet 1 me/nto@ Feb. l2, 1935. E. c. PLACE 1,991,259

SECURINGFLOOR .COVERINGS AND THE LIKE Filed July 29, 1931` 2 sheets-sheet 2 Patented Feb. 12, 193g t yUNI-FrisosrA'lrs PATENT* oFFlcE Bion C. Place, Detroit, Mich., assigner of one-half j to George E. Gagnier, Detroit, Michf Application July 29, 1931, serial No. 553,875 Y 1s claims. cm2- 101) i Thisinvention relates to a new method and arrangement for securing f door coverings of various kinds. More particularly, the invention relates to an improved method and arrangement,

.whereby spring orvsnap fasteners may be utili'zed to secure floor '.coverings, ,aswellv as moldings that serve to .provide a finished appearance,r to the cornersof the room, of the floor to which the covering is applied.

, Heretoforeiioor coverings lhave been securedA to the floor by meansof driven or screw threaded fasteners, or by relatively complex snap fasteners of they type that include a member that is rigidly attached to the floor, and` a complementaryv member that was ksecuredltor the rug. The former arrangements have the disadvantage ofrnarring the floors and making it relatively difficult to apply and remove the oor covering. The latter arrangement permits the iioor covering, to be more readily removed, but they are not entirely satisfactory, not only because of thecomplexity of the fasteners, but because of the fact thatthe thickness yof the assembled snap fastener is such as to cause protuberances in the floor coveringV at the points at which the fasteners are applied, resulting in excessive Wear of the'covering at such points. The latter arrangement also possesses the further disadvantage that the element of the fastener that is attached to the floor is liable to become bentv makingit diicult to bring about an interlock between'the element carried by the covering and theelement attached to the floor. i

yThis invention aims -to modify the corner construction between the wall and the floor in such a Wa'y, that the appearance of the corner is improvedand so that atthe same time spring or snap fasteners,y that are complete in themselves, may be utilized to secure the rug or Y, covering `as Well as a molding used to provide vla.

finished corner construction.

Another object of the invention is to provide a'novel building construction in which the wall and the floor *are` separated 'by a gap that is bridgedy by` aV sheet metallic member provided with fastener receiving openings, which openings may be utilized to constitute the sockets to receive the. shanks of unitary spring fasteners utilized to secureiioor coverings or the like in proper position. l

Alstill further `object ofthe invention is to provide a molding that is preferably co-extensive with the edgevof they floor covering to finish the corner of a room provided with a iioor covering, whichmolding maybe positioned by means of snap or springfasteners enabling it to be readily applied and detached. l y y i A still further object of the inventionris to provide a sheet metallic member for finishing a corner Vbetween the floor and .Wallf'of the room of a building, which memberis so formedvas to form a iiush joint with thenwallmand with the floor, and so as to provide space to the rear of the member for thereception ofthe Shanks of spring fasteners utilized tok securea molding,` oorvcovering or thelike to said member,

Further objects ofthe invention will appear. as a description thereof proceeds with'reference to the accompanying drawingsk in which:

Figure 1 is a yfragmentary vertical sectional view showing one preferred embodiment of thev present invention. y

f Figure 2v is a fragmentary vertical sectional view, on an enlarged' scale taken on the plane indicated, by the lines 2-2 in Figure 3, the molding and the clips or connectors andtheirfasteners vbeing removed. u

vFigure 3 is a sectional Viewk taken on the plane indicated by the lines r3 3 in., Figure 2, looking in the direction ofl the arrows.

Figure 4 is-a sectional `view of a clip, and f preferred form of fastener utilized to attach the molding to the member that bridges the gap between the floor and wall.` i l Figure 5 is a front-elevational view of the clip and fastenershown'insection in Figure 4.

Figurei is a,` rear elevational View ofthe clip and fastener shown in Figure 4. v Figure 7 is a section ofthe molding taken on the plane indicated by the line 7-7 in Figure 8. e. Figure 8 is'a fragmentary elevational View of one form of molding. i

Figures `9, 10 and 11 are respectively front, side elevation and top views of a spring fastener of the preferred type for securing the floor coveringymolding, and the like.

A Figure 12 is a fragmentary vertical sectional View showing a modied arrangement.

Figure 13 is a sectional view ofthe modified sheet metallic member utilized to bridge the gap between the side wall and floor in Figure 12.

Like reference characters indicate like partisy throughout the several figures.

By thsinvention, it is proposed to modify the corner `construction of the rooms of buildings and the like, soI as to adapt the construction to receive resilient Shanks of spring or snapl fasteners, that are, preferably, utilized to-,secure the floor covering or a molding or both to said cor-- ner construction. Inorder that this may be Cil done it is essential that space be provided for the reception of the resilient shanks of said fasteners.

In the preferred embodiment of the invention, 10 indicates the floor of a room or the like supported on suitable supports such as joists 11. 12 indicates a side wall. As shown in Figure 1 the floor 10 terminates short of the wall 12 providing a gap between said door and wall. A metallic member 13 bridges the gap between said floor and wall. Preferably, the metallic member 13 is formed as shown in Figures 1 and 2 so as to provide a vertically extending' attaching flange 14, a horizontally extending abutment 15 for a' base board 16 of the wall 12, a vertically extending portion 17 preferably disposed so that it forms a continuation of the outer face of the base board 16, an inclined portion 18, a horizontally extending portion 19 arranged so that itsr outer surface is flush with the outer surface of the floor 10, a further vertical portion 20, constituting an abutment for the edge of the floor 10, and a horizontally extending attaching flange portion 21. Said metallic member 13 is attachedby suitably securing the anges 14 and 21 to the wall and the floor supporting structure of whatever nature.

Said member it will be observed not only The inclined portion 18 is provided with al multiplicity of spaced perforations or'openings 22 for the reception of the Shanks` of spring fasteners, while the horizontally extending portion 19 forming a continuation vfor the floor is provided with a series of spaced perforations 23 for a like purpose. Member 13, it will be observed further, provides a neat and finished appearance for the corner between the iioor and the wall, and it will be understood that said member is applied in said corner during the course of construction of the building, and that the openings or perforations 22 and 23 are included for the subsequent reception of fasteners intended to secure floor covering or a finishing molding for the-corner to said member 13.

When it is desired to secure a floor covering 24 in position the edges thereof are disposed to lap metallic members 13, which extend jpreferably around the entire room in the lower corners thereof, said covering lapping the horizontal portions 19 of said members. The floor covering is provided' with openings 25 registering approximately with the openings 23 in said portion. Said openings in the floor covering may be reinforced i by grommets as may be deemed desirable.

The covering may then be attached to the portion 19 ofthe metallic member 13 by means of one-piece spring or snap fasteners, such as illustrated in Figures 9, 10 and 11 for example, though it will be understood that other spring or snap fasteners may be employed, though it is essential that the fastener to be employed for this purpose include a head 26 and a resilient shank 27 projecting away from the hea-d. The preferred form of fastener constructed from a single piece of wire is fully described in my Patent #1,679,266, and consists briefly of a head in the form of a loop 28, formed by bending the mid-portion of the wire, of which the fastener is composed, into this form. The portions of the `wire adjacent `the ends ofthe loop are then turned inwardly in the plane of the loop to prvide arms 29 and 30. The ends of the wire are then bent at substantially right angles to the head thus formed, said ends forming the shank 27 of the fastener. In order to provide divergently disposed holding portions 31 and 32 and convergently disposed guiding portions 33 and 34, the ends constituting the shank of the fastener are ,bowed outwardly between the head 26 and the tips of the ends of the wire, as illustrated, and for the purposes more fully described in said patent.

The covering 24 is secured to the member 13 by inserting spring fasteners, such as described, though the approximately aligned openings and 23 of the covering and member respectively. This may be brought about by simply inserting the fasteners through said openings and applying. pressure to the head of the fastener inserting the fastener in a manner similar to the application of a thumb tack. The convergently disposed guiding portions 33 and 34 first engage the edges of theA opening 23 causing a contraction of the shank of the fastener` permitting the widest portions to pass through the opening. After-'said portions have passed therethrough the divergently disposed portions 31 and 32 spring apart and the inclined portions thereof engage the edges of the perforation drawing the covering firmly `toward the horizontal portion 19 of the member 13, rthus holding the edge of the covering in position by a continuously effective yielding pressure. f

The heads of the fasteners that hold the edges of the covering in position are then concealed, and the whole corner is given a finished appearance, by the subsequent application of the molding 35 extending completely across the corner and concealing, not only the heads of the fastener, but, preferably the entire metallic member 13. A preferred way of accomplishing the readily removable attachment of said molding is illustrated best in Figures 1, 4, 5 and 6 of the drawings. To accomplish this clips or connectors 36, illustrated in detail in Figures 4, 5 and 6 lare employed. Each of said connectors includes a horizontally extended portion 37, a vertically extending portion 38, said horizontal and vertical portions being connected by the inclined portion 39. The extreme edges of the portions 37 and 38 are turned slightly inwardly as shown at 40 and 41 for the reception of the margins of the moldings subsequently applied in the manner presently to be described. In order that said clips or connectors 3 6 may be secured to the member 13 they are provided with fasteners ofthe kind `illustrated in Figures 9, l() and 11 or their equivalent. Preferably, said fasteners are assembled with respect to said connections by forming parallel slits 42 and 43 in the inclined portion 39 thereof. The band of metal 44 separated from the clip or connector in this way is then bent inwardly so that the body of said band is spaced suiciently therefrom, so that the head 26 of the snap fastener may be inserted between the band andthe rear face of the portion 39 as illustrated. f

It will thus be seen that the clips may be readily provided with a spring fastener by simply inserting the portion of the head 26, to one side of the shank 27, between the band 44 and the rear ofthe inclined portion 39 of the clip or connector. The spring fastener is thus held in position with vrespect to the clip and when pressureis applied to the clip, after the yas heerste" shank 27 of the spring fastener-isi'brought-'opposite an opening 22 inthe 'inclined-portion of' -the f metallic member 13," assembly isi brought about by pressing said-shankin saidv opening.

The clip thus attached-to said membery by:

snappingthe resilient shank 27 "into the socket provided byv said opening' 22.=;in`= they mannerv above described, rin-connection fwith the .at--A tachment of theedges'of' the floor covering. .Y

It will be understood that the-*clipsfwi'll bei tions to be interloclred With the clips or con' nectors 36 either by hooking'the edge 45 or`46 in back of the edge 40 of the clips or connectors and snapping the other edge of the molding past the edge 41 of the clip or connector that is immediately adjacent thereto, or the moldings 35 may be assembled with respect to the clips or connectors by telesccpically sliding the inwardly turned edges and 46 along the length of the inwardly turned edges 40 and 41 of the connectors. I

It will be observed that the molding can as readily be removed and that with this construction the edge of the floor covering as well as the fasteners that hold it in position are completely concealed by the molding providing a neat appearing and finished joint. The floor covering can as readily be removed and replaced. If desired metallic member 13 may serve as a housing for electrical cables or similar conduits disposed in the corner of the room, and the removable vhollow molding is likewise adapted to be used for the same purpose.

A modified form of the invention is illustrated in Figures 12 and 13 of the drawings in which the metallic member 13 bridges a gap between a baseboard 16 of a wall 12 and a floor 10. The 4metallic member 13 includes attaching flanges 14 and 21', abutment 15 for the baseboard 16 and an abutment 20 for the edge of the floor 10. The portions 16' and 20 are connected by inclined portion 18 provided with a number of perforations or openings 47. Metallic member 13 thus differs from the member 13 previously described in that the vertical portion 17 and the horizontal portion 19 are omitted. The gap between the floor and molding is bridged by inclined portion 18 which isl provided with fastener receiving openings 47. In this form of the invention the floor covering laps said openings in the inclined portion 18', and clips or connectors 36, a molding 35 and the edge of the floor covering are all secured by a single row of snap or spring fasteners as illustrated. Said fasteners are preferably of the type above described and they may pass through openings in the floor covering or the covering may be maintained unperforated and the edges clamped beneath the moldings.

The invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential characteristics thereof. The present embodiment is therefore to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, the scope of the invention being indicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description, and all changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are therefore intended to be embraced therein.

byUnited States Letters Patent isr- 1 1Q Inicombination, .a wall, a floor separated from said Wall by a gap, a perforated metallic member formed to bridge the gap between said wall and said floor, and vmeansin'cluding vspring fasteners and a moldingto securea lapping covering tosaid member, said molding concealing saidi fasteners the shanks of which are snapped inthe perforations of said member.

I 2..:In:' combination, a wall, a floor separated from said wall by a gap, a perforated metallic member formed to bridge the gap between said wall and said floor, and'means including spring fasteners, clips and a molding to secure a lapping covering to said member, said fasteners holding said clips yieldingly and removably to said member and said molding being held by said clips by being sprung beneath the edges thereof. v

3. In combination, a wall, a oor separated What isA 'claimedand desired to be securedl from said Wall by a gapfa sheet metal member I having an inclined portion extending across the corner between said floor and wall and bridging said gap so as to provide a space in back off provide an abutment for the baseboard of said Wall making a flush joint between said member and baseboard.

6. The combination defined in claim 3 in which said sheet metal member also includes a horizontal shelf portion constituting a continuation of the floor.

7. The combination dened in claim 3 in which said sheet metal member also includes a vertically extending `portionforming a continuation of a baseboard and an abutment forming a rest for said baseboard.

8. In combination, a wall, a floor separated from said wall by a gap, a sheet metal member bridging said gap and having portions flush with the adjacent portions of said wall and floor, spring fasteners to secure a lapping covering to one of said portions, and a molding concealing said spring fasteners and said member,` said molding being also secured to said member by spring fasteners.

9. The combination defined in claim 8 in which said member includes an inclined portion perforated to receiver said second named spring fasteners.

10. In combination, a Wall, a floor separated from said wall by a gap, a sheet metal member bridging said gap and forming a smooth joint with said floor and wall, a molding to lap an edge of a floor covering, and spring fasteners to secure a lapping floor covering and said molding tosaid member. f

11. A sheet metal member to facilitate attachment of carpets to oors by means of spring fasteners, consisting of a body portion provided with fastener receiving openings and edge portions disposed at an angle to the body portion and provided with means to secure said edge portions to a building, said edge portions serving to space said body portion from the parts of the building to which it is' attached so that space is provided in back of said body portion for the reception of the Shanks of spring fasteners.

12. In combination, a Wall, a iioor separated from said fWall by a gap, a metallic member formed to bridge the gap between said wall and floor, means to space said member from said wall and iioor, and means including spring fasteners to secure a lapping covering to said member yand projecting into the space behind said member.

. 13. In combination, a. wall, a floor separated from said wall by a gap, a perforated metallic memberformed to bridge the gap between said wall and said oor, means to space said member from the corner between said Wall and floor, and means including spring fasteners having their Shanks snapped into the perforations in said member, and extending into the space behind said member to secure a lapping covering to said member.

BION C. PLACE. 

